Mountain View, Calif.—Ground has broken on an eco-friendly, mixed-use workforce housing community in Mountain View, Calif. The project, dubbed 819 North Rengstorff Apartments, is a collaborative effort between developers ROEM Corporation, Eden Housing Inc. and the City of Mountain View. The project is slated for completion in March 2015.

The $18 million, KTGY Group-designed project was financed with 9 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), with additional support coming from the City of Mountain View and Wells Fargo Community Lending & Investment. ROEM Corporation will serve as the general contractor. All of the building’s 49 units will be studios and are available to families with annual incomes at or below 45 percent of the Santa Clara County Area Median Income, which is a little more than $90,000 according to a 2012 U.S. Census Bureau report.

“It is critical that we address the supply of affordable, high-quality housing in Mountain View, which is why the City partners with respected developers like Eden Housing and ROEM,” says Mountain View Mayor Chris Clark. “We hope new housing developments like this one will broaden the housing options for anyone who wants to live in Mountain View.”

The development will don a host of green credentials and features starting with its target of LEED Gold certification and compliance with CALGreen Building Codes. The community is estimated to exceed California’s Title-24 energy efficiency standards by 22.2 percent once completed. Other green features will include a solar photovoltaic system that will help offset common area energy usage, drought tolerant landscaping, a water-efficient irrigation system, and bioswales for water-runoff filtration. Individual units will include green elements such as low-flow plumbing fixtures and recycled content carpet and/or natural flooring.

Developers have committed to using locally-sourced and recycled materials when possible, which will allow for the diversion of 75 percent of construction waste generated by the project.

“We are very proud to have worked with our great partners at Eden Housing and ROEM to ensure that sustainable, affordable housing is available in this community,” says Tim McCann, senior vice president, Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment. “Wells Fargo has a strong commitment to supporting long-term economic growth and improving the quality of life for everyone in our communities.”

The community will be located at 819 North Rengstorff and will consist of a single three-story building. It will include 41 parking spaces and 49 bicycle parking spaces. Residents will have access to a community room with kitchen, a computer room, laundry rooms, and patio areas on the ground and third floors. The exterior will include earth tones on mediums of wood and stucco.

“We are thrilled to break ground on our first affordable housing development in Mountain View,” says Eden Housing President Linda Mandolini. “The need for affordable housing in Silicon Valley is great. We see the demand at Eden where we have nearly 5,000 households on our waiting list in the region. Eden believes that partnering with the City and ROEM is an important step to bridge the affordable housing gap in Santa Clara County.”